The Sri Lankan military declared it was launching a search operation in Jaffna this morning, stating it was seeking to arrest a group of “young suspects” in Point Pedro following an alleged clash with soldiers.

In an official statement released online, the Sri Lankan military claimed a “clash” occurred “between some youngsters and a group of soldiers on mobile patrol”.

British Tamil rapper and activist M.I.A received an MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for services to music from Prince William at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, and highlighted how her mother who fled Sri Lanka as a refugee helped stitch the very medal she received.

Tamils in Eelam and around the world celebrated the festival of Thai Pongal on Wednesday.

A Chinese woman who came forward as a victim of gang rape that was reportedly led by a Sri Lankan Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) politician is still awaiting justice, more than 10 months after the assault.

So far, the woman has filed multiple complaints including with the Asian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Her case has been heard four times at the Galle Magistrate's Court, with a further hearing scheduled for January 22.

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the contribution made by British Tamils to life in the UK, stating that their “fantastic contribution makes a real difference” in a Thai Pongal message released this morning.  

“Tradiationally this day of worship celebrates the arrival of the harvest,” said Johnson. “But I also want to celebrate the contribution of Tamils in the UK.”

He went on to add,

The leader of the UK Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn thanked the British Tamil community and commemorated “sacrifices made by the Tamil people for their human rights, for peace and for justice in Sri Lanka” in a message to mark Thai Pongal this morning.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Tamil community in the UK for the many important contributions it’s made and continues to make all over the country,” said the video messaged released by the Labour leader.

The United National Party (UNP) has suspended the membership of parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake for statements “made against Buddhism and Buddhist monks,” reportedly on the orders of former Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The General Secretary of the UNP, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told reporters that the party would inquire into Ramanayake’s time as State Ministers during which he reportedly publicised “critical videos of Buddhist monks”. 

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The US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs met with Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo earlier today and pledged stronger ties between the two governments, despite the Sri Lankan leaders being accused of overseeing war crimes.

China’s foreign minister said Beijing “will not allow any outside influences to interfere with matters that are essentially internal concerns of Sri Lanka,” after meeting with Sri Lanka’s president in Colombo earlier today.

"As Sri Lanka's strategic partner, China will continue to stand by Sri Lanka's interests," said Foreign Minister of the Peoples’ Republic of China Wang Yi.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to visit India next month, after foreign minister Dinesh Gunawardena visited Delhi and held talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on the relationship between the two governments.

The two officials reportedly held wide ranging talks, touching on “a range of substantive bilateral issues and regional concerns,” tweeted Jaishankar.